Vulcanizer.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES C. HEINTZ, 0F LAKEWOOD, AND GEORGE I tUF, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO; SAID RUF ASSIGNOR TO SAID IIEINTZ.

vULcnNizEn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1918.

Application filed May 5, 1916.l Serial No. 95,558.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that we, (l) JAMES C. HnIN'rz, (2) GEORGE RUF, residing at Lakewood (1), Cleveland (2), in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vulcanizers, of which the followin is a full, clear, and exact description, re erence being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to improvements in vulcanizers, and has for its obJect to provide a highly ellicient vulcanizer that is of simple and substantial construction; extreme] convenient of use; that is thoroughly sa e and reliable', and that is peculiarly adapted to the mending of either the inner or outer tubes of pneumatic tires.

In more limited terms, the invention may be said to have as its object the production of-an electrically heated vulcanizer containing a compartment for fluid (preferably water) whereby the same is prevented from becoming overheated to a degree dangerous to the material upon which it is operating; that may be provided with a thermometer whereby ,the tem erature of the fluid contained in the a oresaid chamber may be ascertained; and an automatically opening vent for the fluid compartment` which may consist of a rupturable member or closure for a vent aperture that is fractured when the internal pressure rises above a predeter mined point; that is equipped with means for clamping in operative relation to its vulcanizing orworking surface, the inner tube or a pneumatic tire (or like object), or whereby the Vulcanizer may be secured in operative relation to the outer tube or casing of a pneumatic tire.

The foregoing objects are attained in a vulcanizer constructed in accordance with the accompanying drawing which forms a part hereof and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawing. 4

In the drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the vulcanizer with the presser plate removed; Fig. 2 is a similar view of means for attaching the vulcanizer to the outer tube or casing of a pneumatic tire; Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the vnlcanizer showing the inner tube of a pneumatic tire clamped to its vulcanzing or working surface by a clamping plate; Fig. 4

is a transverse section through a pneumatic tire to which the vulcanizer is secured by the means illustrated in Fig. 2; and Fig. 5 is a central section through the vulcanlzer at right angles to Fig. 3.

1 represents the body portion of the vulcanizer which consists of and will be referred to hereinafter as a casing, the same being hollow and having a concaved vulcanizing or working surface 2, and a de ression or recess 3 in its opposite side. A bi urcated lug 4 extends from each side of thecasing, and a screw 5 has its end pivoted within the bifurcation of each lug 4, upon a pin 6 which is supported in the opposed forks of the hifurcated lug. Wing nuts 7 are applied to the screws 5. The chamber 10 of the hollow casing is cored when the Casin is cast, and each end of the casing is provided with an aperture 11 through which the core may be removed, and which is threaded for the reception of a threaded plug. A plug 12 is shown as threaded into one of the apertures 11, the vplug having a through opening into the outer end of which is inserted the end of a suitable thermometer 14. A plug 15 occupies the aperture l1 at the opposite end of the casin and a vent opening or port 16 extends t rough the plug, and the same is adapted to be normally closed by a ruptur able member 18, soldered or otherwise secured to the inner end of the plug. The chamber 10 is adapted to permanently contain a suitable Huid, preferably water.

An electric heating element 20 occupies the de ression or recess 3 of the casing, and is hel therein by a plate 2l, secured to the casing by the screws 22. A suitable leg 23 depends from each corner of the plate 21 and serves to support the vulcanizer a suitable distance above a supporting surface, when the same is used for mending such articles as the inner tubes of pneumatic tires.

The vuleanizer is shown in such use in Figs. 3 and 5. and the inner tube T is clamped to the concave vulcanizing or working surface of the -casing by a presser plate 25. of a convexed curvature complementary to the coneavity of the working surface 2. Later-ally extending bifurcatedears 2G of the presser plate line up with the lugs 4 of the casing and are adapted to receive the screws 5. and wing nuts 7 may be screwed down against the outer surfaces of the ears 26 to' force the presser plate toward the working surface of the casing. The plate is strengthened transversely by a substantial reinforcing rib 28.

In the repairing of the .outer tube or casing C of a tire, the vulcanizer is inverted thereover so that its concaved working surface embraces the damaged portion of the casing, and the same may be secured thereto by the means shown in Figs. 2 and 4 and comprising a chain 30 which may be anchored to one of the screws 5 by means of a fork 31 that is provided with an internally` threaded hollow boss 32, that is applied to the screw. The links of the chain may be engaged between the branches of the fork 31 in a well known manner, while the opposite end of the chain may be secured to the other screw 5 by means of a clevis 33 that has an internally threaded Wrench or key receiving portion 34 that is adjustable along the last mentioned screw. The connection between the chain and the clevis is made through an eye 35 having its end inserted through the yoke of the clevis and riveted at 36, whereby a swivel connection between the chain and clevis is obtained. Freni this construction it will be seen that in applying the vuleanizer to a casing, the clevis may be threaded upon the end of the screw 5, the

chain swung down beneath the rim W of the wheel and up on the other side and engaged with the fork 31. Thereafter', the

parts may be drawn tight by the adjustment of the clevis along its screw.

The vulcanizin process, in. general, need not be described, or the same is well known to those skilled in the art; but it may be explained that, in the use of our vulcanizer, a Huid, preferably Water, is permanently contained within the chamber 10 and becomes heated when the current is turned into the electric heating element 2O through the Wires 40, the heat being transmitted principally through the fluid to the working surface of the vulcanizer. The current is permitted to flow until the temperature of the fluid reaches a predetermined degree (which may be ascertained from the thermometer 14, or jud ed by the length of time the current is on Should the vuleanizer become overheated through any cause, such as the carelessness of the operator, the danger of it exploding through the generating of steam drawings, we wish to be understood as not` limiting ourselves to the particular details illustrated further than is required by the terms of the following claims as construed in the light of the prior art.

Having thus described our invention', what we claim is z- 1. A vulcanizer comprising a hollow fluidtight casing having a` working surface, the side of' the casing opposite said surface having a recess, an electric heating element within said recess, a plate for closing said recess, said plate being provided with legs, and means for clamping an object in oper ative relation to the working surface.

2. A vulcanizer comprising a hollow fluidtight casing having' a working surface, an electric heating element applied to the side of the casin opposite said Working surface, and means or clamping an object in-operative relation to the working surface.

A vulcanizer comprising a hollow fluidtight casing havin a working surface and permanently contaming a fluid, an electric heating elementapplied to the side of the casing opposite said working surface, and means for clamping an object in operative relation to the working surface.

4. A vulcanizer comprising a hollow Huidtight casing having a workmg surface, the side of said casing opposite the working surface being recessed, a plate for application to the recessed side of the easing, an eleotric heating element carried by said plate and arranged to repose Within the recess, and means for clamping an object in operative relation to the working surface of the casing.

In testimony whereof, we hereunto aiiix our signatures.

JAMES C. HEINTZ. irEORGrE RUF. 

